Furnace.



No. 746,759. PATENTBD DBG. 15, 1903.

O. A. STRANAAN, W. W. CHURCHILL @a W. R. RNEY.

FURNAGB.

APPLIUATIoN H LBD D20. s, 190s.

N0 MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SEBBT 2.

mi rouw. vfrans comnonurmo. mwmmow- L r f UNITED STATES Patented December 1 5, 1903.

PATENT OEEICE.

OLIN A. STRANAHAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AND WILLIAM W. rCHURCHILL l AND WILLIAM It. RONEY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNORS TO THE WESTINGHOUSE MACHINE COMPANY, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA. n

'i-'uuri/lola.'y

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 746,759, dated December 15, 1903. Application filed December 3. 1902. Serial No. 133,700. (lilo` model.)

To LZZ whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that we, CLIN A. STRANAHAN,

, of Chicago,`in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, and WILLIAM W. CHURCHILL and WILLIAM R.V RoNEY, both of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,

have invented certain new and useful ImprovementsinFurnaces; and wedo hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and

to exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference markedl thereon, which form a part of this'specication. i

This invention relates to improvements in I 5 furnaces of that kind which are provided with mechanical stokers or devices forcontinuously feeding fuel thereto, and more especially to furnaces of the class referred to which have au inclined grate, to the upper zo end of which the fuel is fed, a fuel-hopper attached to the frontwall of the furnace, and

a feed-opening in said front wall,through which the fuel passes from said hopper, and

a lire-arch over the upper part of the inclined z 5 grate, as shown, for instance,in prior United States Letters Patent No. 409,305, granted to W. R. Roney August 20, 1889.

' The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described,`and pointed out in the ap- 3o pended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a view in central longitudinal section of the upper front part of afurnaee embodying my invention, showing theffuel-hopper, the up- 3 5 per part of the grateftheaich over said grate, the feed-opening, an dciated parts. Fig. 2 is a face View of 't H rrt of the front wall of the furnace shownv In Fig. lwith the fuelhopper in vertical section. Fig. 3 is a view 4o in perspective of the detachable throat-plate shown in Figs. 1' and 2 separate from the other parts.- Fig. 4 is a'detail sectional view of the furnace, taken on line 440i Fig. l, showing the lire-arch in front elevation. Fig.

4.5 5 is a detail plan view of the lire-arch.

As shown in said drawings, A A indicate the side walls of the furnace; B, the front wall thereof; C, the upper partof the inclined grate; D, the fuel-hopper E, the fire-arch, which exand B4 B4.

tends over the forward part of the grate, and F F fire-brick located between the tire-arch and the front wall of the furnace. The main parts only of the hopper D are shown in the accompanying drawings. The grate C illustrated consists of a series of rocking gratebars arranged in stepped or overlapped relation,'and in connection therewithdeviees will be provided for giving oscillatory or rocking motion thereto, `such as are shown in said prior patent; but inasmuch as any forni of 'grate may be employed a detailed illustration of the grate is deemed unnecessary. Now, referring to the parts moreimmedi- Vately concerned with the present improvement-s, the feed-hopper embraces two side plates D D', which are attached to the front wall of the furnace, a front, and a bottom D2, which in the instance shown rests on two inwardly-extending anges or ledges dd at the lower margins of the side plates. The partof the fron-t wall of the furnace below the hopper is formed by plates B B4 B4. The portions of said wall at either endof the hopper are foJjined by lateral plates B2B?, while 'the portion above the central part rof the hopper is formed by an intermediate plate B3. The front wall is provided with a feed-opening formed between the plates B', H2132, and B3. The central portion of the lower margin of said feed-opening is formed by the top edges of the plates B' B4 B4, which top edges are located at the level of the bottom surface of the bot-tom plate D2 of the feed-hopper, which latter extends over said plate B to form the dead-plate D4 and is bolted to the outer surface of said plates B' The feed-opening is made of the same width as the interior of the hopper, and its end margins are formed by the lateral plates B2 B2, the vertical edges of which are iush with the inner faces of the side walls D' D' of said hopper. tend inwardly above the said feed-opening, the intermediate plates B and B3 below vand above the opening beingshortenthan the width of said opening. 'The top margin of said feed-opening is formed by a separate throat-plate G, which extends the full length of the opening and is attached at its upper The plates B2 B2 exedge to the margins of both the lateral plates B2 B2 and the intermediate plate B2.

As shown in the drawings, the plate B' is attached at its ends to the plates B4 B4 by means of vertical connecting-bars b b, bolted to both plates. The lateral plates B2 B2 are provided with sight-openings b' with pokerdoors b2 and with offset flanges b2 b3 in their lower edges, which overlap the plates B4 B4, and are also provided on their inner vertical edges above the feed-opening with odset flanges b4 b4, which everlap the ends of the intermediate plate B8 and to which the latter are bolted. As shown in said drawings, also the side plates D of the hopper are provided with outwardly-extending flanges d' d2, by which said side plates are bolted to the lateral plates B2 B2 above the level of the feed-open ing'and to the plates B4 B4 below the level of the feed-opening.

Now, referring more particularly to the throat-plate G, the same is provided at its upper margin with an outwardly offset flange G', which overlaps the marginal parts of the lateral and intermediate plates B2 B2 and Bs and through which are inserted bolts for securing the throat-plate to said intermediate and lateral plates. The olfset construction of the ange G brings the main or lower part of the throatplate in the same plane with the furnace-wall above the same when the parts are assembled. On its rear or inner face said throat-plate is provided with a horizontal inwardly projecting ange G2, which serves as a support for the outer ends of the fire-brick F, which latter are provided with grooves f to engage said flange. The inner ends of said tire-brick are shown as supported from the front wall of the furnace by means of a metal bracket f', as shown in said prior patent, No. 409,805. The lower edge of e the said throat-plate is provided with a plurality of slots or notches g g, which are open at their lower ends and extend upwardly from the lower edge of said plate into the body of the same. Said slots or notches form a series of projections or fingers on the lower margin of the plate. The purpose of said notches is to prevent the throat-plate from being warped or distorted by the action of heat on the lower edge of the plate, which is the part of the plate most exposed to the heat from the burning fuel at the top or upper part of the grate.

The portion of the front wall of a furnace of the kind herein shown which is exposed to the destructive action of heat from the fire is that above the fuel-feed opening and adjacent to or in contant with the fire-brick F. In a furnace in which the front wall is made of iron in the usual manner, as shown, for instance, in said prior patent, No. 409,305, the front wall above the feed opening has been found to become deteriorated or burned out by the excessive heat to which such part is exposed much more rapidly than other parts of the said front wall. In such a furnace, therefore, the burning out of this part of the front wall frequently occurs and makes extensive work necessary in the way of repairs, because requiring the renewal of the castings or plate forming the entire upper part of the front wall. The construction herein illustrated has the important advantage that the detachable throat-plate, which is the only part exposed to the destruction by heat, may be readily removed and replaced by a new one. Such construction has the further advantage that the flange which supports the fire-brick, being formed on or attached to the throat-plate, is removable with the latter, so that said flange, which is liable to deterioration nearly to the same extent as the part of the wall below it, may be removed and renewed with the throat-plate.

The presence of the slots g g in the throatplate is important, because by preventing the warping or distortion of the plate and the ange thereon it greatly prolongs the life of said plate and prevents the fire-brick from being loosened or displaced, as is liable to occur if the plate becomes warped or bent by heat.

The fire-arch illustrated in the accompanying drawings embraces improved features of construction, as follows: Said fire-arch is inclined downwardly and inwardly or in the same general direction as the inclination of the grate below it. Said fire-arch is, moreover, made of stepped form on its under surface, so as to present a plurality of ridges which extend across the furnace and form shoulders or abrupt surfaces facing toward the front of the furnace. As shown and preferably constructed, the ridged lower surfaces of the fire-arch are so constructed that a sectional view of the arch will show alternating horizontal and vertical faces, so that the for-` wardly-facing shoulders thereon have flat and vertical faces. Moreover, the spring of the arch is greater at the inner than at the outer part thereof, or, in other words, the arch is flatter in its part near the front of the furnace than at its rear part.

The features of construction in the arch above referred to are obtained by making the arch of a series of rings or rows of fire-brick shaped like the voussoirs of an arch, each row or ring extending from side to side of the furnace and the several rows or rings being arranged in stepped relation, so as to give a downward and inward inclination to the arch as a whole. In the particular construction illustrated the two outermost rows or rings E'- E2 and the innermost rings Es are shown as made thicker from front to rear than the intermediate rings E4 E4, which are of the same thickness. The outermost ring E is shown as made flatter than the ring E2, while the latter is Hatter than the intermediate rings E4, which latter are alike in shape. The rows E E2 and the adjacent or outermost of the intermediate rows E4, moreover,

have their under surfaces at the crown of the IOO IIO

arch atthe same level, so that these rows are and between the innermost one of said rings EJ1 and the innermost wider ring E3 are ofsubstantially equal width from side to side of the furnace, Fig. 4. The front and rear faces of the bricks in the several rings are vertical and parallel witheach other. In

l order to strengthen the arch and make it more durable and substantial, the rings composing the same are connected or bonded atv the crown of the arch through the introducv tion of fire-brick e Ve" of double thickness or of sufficient length from front to rear to extend through two adjacent rings.

The advantage gained by making the inner or lower face of the arch inclined and of stepped or shouldered form is that this construction prevents the products of combustion or gases arising from the combustion of the coal at the top of the grate from passing so quickly or rapidly along the fire-arch as to pass the rear margin of the saine without complete combustion thereof or with the accompanying smoke unconsumed. This retarding of the rearward movement of such products of combustion is due mainly to the stepped form of the inclined lower surface of the arch, the shoulders of which produce-an eddying or swirling motion therein, tending to interrupt the direct rearward flow of the gases and retaining them beneath the arch long enough to insure the complete combustion of the smoke. This result is aided or assisted by the shape of the arch which, having greater convexity at its rear part than at its front or atter end, tends to throw or deflect inwardly and downwardly the gases which rise into contact with the arch at the sides of the same. By making the arch flatter at its forward than at its rear end, moreover, the sides of the arch adjacent to the front plate are elevated, so as to leave spaces for the introduction of a poker through the poker-opening b2 at the sides of the fuel-openings and also to permit inspection of the fire through the sight-openings there located. An advantage is also gained by the stepped construction in the arch described by reason of the fact that this construction in an inclined arch is better, stronger, and more durable than one in which the arch-rings are disposed obliquely, it being obvious that each of the sets or rings of the fire-arch composing the arch are in vertical planes instead of being inclined, as in the arch shown in said prior patent hereinbefore referred to the action of gravity has no tendency to displace or overthrow the brick forming the arch.

We claim as our invention- 1. The combination with the metal front Wall of a furnace provided with a feed-opening, and a fire-arch comprising a row of firebrick'which are supported on said front wall, a throat-plate which extends across the feedopening and forms the top margin thereof, said throat-plate'being detachably secured at its upper edge to said front wall, and means for supporting Isaid {ire-brick on the said front wall, consisting of an inwardly-extending, integral flange on the inner face of the said throat-plate, on which the forward ends of said nre-brick rest, and brackets attached to the front wall and adapted to engage and support the rear ends of said rebrick.

2. The .combination with the front wall of a -furnace and a fuel-hopper thereon, said front wall ha ving a feed-opening the side and lower margins of which coincide with the bottoin and side walls of `the fuel-hopper, and the portions of which adjacent to the feedopening consist of two lateral plates which project inwardly over the lateral portions of said feed-openings, and to which the side walls of the fuel-hopper are attached, and an intermediate plate'which has overlapping relation at its ends with and Ais bolted at its ends to the inner margins of the said lateral plates, and a throat-plate which extends the full width of the feed-opening and forms the top margin thereof, said throat-plate having overlapping relation 'at its upper edge both with the lateral andfintermediate front plates, and being detachably secured to said parts;

3. The combination with the metal front wall of a furnace provided with a feed-opening, a nre-arch embracinga row of fire-brick which is located adjacent to said front wall above the said feed-opening, and a throatplate which extends across the top of the feed-opening and is detachably secured at its upper margin to said front wall; said throatplate being provided on its rear surface above its lower edge with an inwardly-projecting fiange and the forward ends of the lire-brick being provided above their lower faces with notches to engage said iange, and being extended, below said iiange, into contact with the rear surface of the throat-plate.

' 4. The combination, with the metal front wall of a furnace provided with a feed-opening, a fire-arch embracing a row of fire-brick which is located adjacent to said front Wall above the feed-opening,'and a throat-plate which extends across the feed-opening and forms the top margin thereof and is detachably secured at its upper margin to the lowerv margin of said front wall, said throat-plate being provided on its rear surface above its lower edge with an inwardly-projecting flange and the forward ends of the nre-brick being provided above their lower faces with notches to engage said iiange and being extended, below the flange, into contact with the inner face'of the th roat-plate, the throat-plate being extended at its lower margin below the fire-brick, and having in its margin which so extends below the hre-brick, a plurality of slots or notches.

FIO

v or curvature at its front than at its rear 5. The combination with the metal front wall of a' furnace of a fire-arch consisting of a dat front portion which is attached to and supported solely by said front wall, and a rearwardly and downwardly inclined rear portion of sprung form, which is supported on the side walls of the furnace; said Vrear or sprung portion of the arch being of less rise or curvature at its front than at its rear part.

6. A sprung tire-arch for furnaces which is rearwardly and downwardly inclined and has less rise or curvature at its front than at its rear part.

7. A sprung fire-arch for furnaces which is rearwardly and downwardly inclined, is stepped on its under surface and has less rise portion.

8. A fire-arch for furnaces which is inclined downwardly from the front toward the rear of the furnace and comprises a plurality of sets or rows of arch-brick arranged in stepped relation, one or more of the rows at the front of the arch having less curvature than those ofthe rear thereof, so that the archis fiatter or has less rise at the front than at the rear of the furnace.

9. A lire-arch for furnaces which is inclined downwardly from the front toward the rear of the furnace and comprises a plurality of sets or rows of arch-brick disposed in stepped relation, one or more of the rows of brick at or more of the rows 'of brick'at the frontofA the arch having their lower faces, at the crown of the arch, arranged inthe same horizontal plane.

lO. A lire-arch for furnaces which is inclined downwardly from the front toward the rear of the furnace, and comprises a plurality of rows of arch-brick arranged in stepped relation, the row of fire-brick at the front of the arch being of less curvature than those at the rear, and one or more intermediate rows between said front row and the rear rows being of intermediate curvature.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our invention we afiix our signatures, in presence of witnesses, this 16th day of January, A. D. 1901.

CLIN A. STRANAHAN. w. w. CHURCHILL. WILLIAM R. RCNEY.

Witnesses to Stranahan:

FREDERICK WILLIAM LE TALL, 'ARTHUR ALFRED BERCIN. Witnesses to Churchill:

HENRY R. KENT, H. A. BRINKERHCEF. Witnesses to Roney:

E. H. TURPEIN, H. F. BURRoUGHs. 

